Payroll Specialist II

City of Gainesville•Gainesville, FL

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Performs technical and moderately complex payroll accounting work, including processing biweekly payroll for all active employees and monthly payroll for retirees. Gathers and verifies payroll data, calculates and enters employee earnings, deductions, and adjustments, and ensures compliance with all applicable laws and City policies. Reviews tax withholdings, manages garnishment and deduction requests, and reconciles payroll data for accuracy and timeliness. Exhibits strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and the ability to analyze and resolve payroll discrepancies independently. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor or coordinator and work under general supervision commensurate with the level of knowledge and experience. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classifications by its focus on recurring payroll functions and absence of supervisory responsibility, and from lower classifications by more complex analytical duties and independence in problem solving.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma, and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in payroll processing, accounting, or a related field; or
An Associate’s degree or certification from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, and one (1) year of experience in payroll processing or accounting; or
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Knowledge of and ability to process routine and semi-complex payroll, including hours of work and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Knowledge of financial operations, bookkeeping principles, and standard office procedures, routines, and equipment.
Knowledge of and willingness to apply appropriate accounting principles and procedures to payroll functions.
Knowledge of rules and regulations governing payroll and tax reporting.
Knowledge of business English and arithmetic.
Knowledge of City labor agreements and ability to interpret provisions affecting pay, leave, and scheduling.
Ability to understand and perform time conversions between hours, minutes, and hundredths for accurate payroll processing.
Ability to learn and apply more complex accounting principles, rules, and regulations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel (pivot tables preferred), Teams, and PowerPoint.
Ability to skillfully operate computers and other business machines, including a 10-key calculator.
Ability to type a minimum of 40 words per minute with accuracy.
Ability to analyze semi-complex payroll or accounting issues and recommend solutions.
Ability to make mathematical calculations with reasonable speed and accuracy.
Ability to organize work, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and follow up on assignments with limited supervision.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with coworkers, department heads, elected officials, and representatives of other agencies.
Must obtain a valid Florida Driver's License within 30 days of appointment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, such as Workday, is preferred but not required.
Prior experience with municipal payroll or public-sector labor agreements is desired but not required.

Responsibilities

Processes biweekly payroll for all employees and monthly payroll for retirees in compliance with City policies and Federal and State regulations.
Reviews payroll registers, time reports, and deduction records for accuracy and completeness prior to processing.
Prepares, verifies, and maintains employee tax withholding and deduction data for Federal, State, and local compliance.
Processes and maintains accurate records of garnishments, levies, and other court-ordered deductions.
Forwards payment requests related to wage garnishments and other court-ordered deductions to Accounts Payable for disbursement.
Responds to inquiries from employees and departments regarding pay, leave, deductions, and taxes, and provides timely resolution or clarification.
Assists in reconciling payroll accounts, verifying that wages, deductions, and benefits are correctly posted and reported.
Supports preparation and submission of required payroll-related reports to external agencies, including IRS and State filings.
Participates in audit preparation by compiling payroll data, schedules, and supporting documentation.
Maintains confidentiality of all payroll and personnel-related information in accordance with City policy.
Utilizes Microsoft Excel to create pivot tables, analyze data trends, and prepare payroll-related summaries and reports.
Assists in testing or implementation of payroll system upgrades or procedural changes as directed.
May serve as a backup within the accounts payable area as needed to ensure continuity of operations.
Complies with all organizational, Federal, and State policies, procedures, and regulations.
Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.